Homer O. Johnson
Macon County
Jewelry/Wood Carving
From Homer O. Johnson’s biography “art is create, educate, and elevate.”
After Homer graduated from Tuskegee Institute High School, he spent three years in the Army stationed in Europe. After Europe, he lived in Atlanta, Georgia where he met, and was influenced by, sculptor and jewelry maker George “JuJu” Ferrell. Homer started making copper jewelry, then clay and metal sculpture. In 1990 Homer received an Associate Degree in Art.
Returning to Tuskegee in 1994, Homer began wood carving of faces, in particular, African-American masks. He attended a variety of professional development workshops in 2005, sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA) and the Alabama Alliance for Art Education (AAAE). He was named to Brewbaker Intermediate School Artist in Residence program in Montgomery, Alabama, after his professional development program attendance. Homer taught special needs students the art of African mask making using geometry standards in the process. Also in 2005, Homer was commissioned by the UAB Theater Department to carve panels for a piano used in their production of the Pulitzer Prize winning play, “The Piano Lesson.”
From 2006 – 2018 Homer attended workshops dealing with many aspects of training art teachers, visual arts education and classroom management. A sculpted mask made during this time period became part of the Children’s Artworks Gallery of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA). He continued as an Artist in Residence throughout Alabama integrating art with standards used in reading, writing, math and language arts.
In 2004, Governor Bob Riley presented Homer a commendation for his exemplary talent and willingness to share his artwork with the citizens of Alabama.
In 2014, Governor Robert Bentley presented Homer a commendation for his invaluable service and dedication to Alabama.